Associated Press reported that officials of U.S. Department of Energy said April 21 oil and gas lease sales from public lands will be canceled through June amid the ongoing review of how the program contributes to climate change. The action does not affect existing leases, and the agency continues to issue new drilling permits during the review ordered by the White House. Sales had tentatively been scheduled in six states – New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada – and the bureau’s eastern region.
According to S&P Global Platts, at a hearing of the U.S. Senate energy and natural resources committee Tuesday, Nada Culver of the Bureau of Land Management said U.S. Department of Interior has approved more than 500 drilling permits on existing leases on federal lands and waters since January.